Baseball team stays undefeated in region play with wins at Monticello, Richfield

by
Jeff Richardscontributing writerMoab Times Independent

Apr 18, 2013 | 736 views | 0 | 6 | |

The Grand County High School baseball team stayed undefeated in region play last week, thanks to a wild win over Monticello and a doubleheader sweep of the Richfield Wildcats.

Playing Monticello at Moab on Wednesday, April 10, the Red Devils led 3-0 in the first inning, but the Buckaroos scored seven runs in the top of the third to take a commanding 9-3 lead. Grand managed to chip away at the deficit by scoring at least one run in each of the last five innings.

The Red Devils were still behind 13-12 entering the bottom of the seventh and final inning, but freshman Dalton McElhaney belted a two-run double with two out to give Grand a thrilling 14-13 victory.

The Red Devils had a total of 16 hits during the contest, including doubles by Aaron Lewis, Cameron Taylor, and Koi Cook. Cook came to the mound as a relief pitcher near the end of the game, picking up the win.

Two days later, the Red Devils traveled to Richfield for a varsity doubleheader on Friday, April 12.

Grand won the first game 7-4, with senior Preston Walston going the distance on the mound and picking up the pitching victory. Richfield led 2-0 after two innings, but Grand scored in each of the last four innings to pull ahead. Walston also hit a double during the contest.

Cook, a junior, pitched the entire second game, which the Red Devils won 9-8.

“We were ahead 9-3 early on, and then they got a home run and some other hits and started cutting into our lead,” Cook said.

Ultimately, the Red Devils were able to hold on for the win. Getting extra-base hits for Grand were Tanner White, who hit a home run, while Cook and Taylor each added a double.

This week, the Red Devils were originally scheduled to travel to Manti to face the Templars on Tuesday, April 16, but the game was canceled due to six inches of snow that had fallen in Manti overnight. The game is expected to be rescheduled, but the alternate date had not yet been decided as of Tuesday morning, according to GCHS athletic director Ron Dolphin.

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